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Chapter 3

Hooker Boots and Good Old Dress Blues

When Alex and the Trips got back from shopping, she found Bobby sprawled out on the couch, shoes off, tie loosened and shirt sleeves rolled up with six empty beer cans on the floor. She was slightly alarmed. The shopping trip had gone long and wore the kids out, so she was able to sneak them up to their room and put them down. She went back down to her husband's side and began to rub his chest.

"Hey."

"Hey back … what's with the all the ah … celebrating?"

He bit his lip and glanced in the direction of his locker contents. Her eyes followed his and then she looked back at him.

"I did something today without consulting you … I'm sorry, but it was time."

"Oh my God … she glanced back at his suits and old dress blues … you resigned!?"

He stood up and held his hands out, "Yes … yes I did, but you have to understand … I did it for you and the children. Being a police officer is very dangerous and let's face it … I'm not getting any younger or ah … thinner. I was offered a great job, Babe. My salary plus yours and another several thousand dollar sign on bonus and moving expenses."

"MOVING EXPENSES!?"

"George Washington University … Colin Powell went there, Alex and J William Fulbright. They want me, Alex … me and I haven't even presented my doctoral thesis yet."

Alex began to pace, a habit she picked up from her husband.

"Washington? You want us to move to Washington?"

Bobby bowed his head … he then picked up his eyes to catch hers and said, "Yes, I do … is that okay?"

"But, Bobby … what about my career and my family? Not to mention our home … and what about our friends?"

He nodded, "You're right … you are absolutely right. I'll turn the job down. If I was offered that one … they'll be other offers. My severance pay will take us til' the end of the year … I'll find something by then. He starts to pace and talk with his hands … after all … he did just quit his job. St. John's in Queens has Criminal Justice and of course there's John Jay College of Criminal Justice! You see, Alex … two places right there that I can apply to. We'll be fine. You can still work after the baby is born and … and it will be status quo."

He sat back down on the couch and grabbed for a beer can … he tried to find one that wasn't empty. Alex could see the look of disappointment on his face. She knew that Bobby never did anything for himself … his mother always came first and then Alex and the Trips. She sat down next to him and began to rub his back. He smiled and placed his hand on her leg. He tapped it and asked, "Hey, did you find any costumes?"

"Oh, yeah, as a matter of fact I did. I don't know how you're gonna feel about them, but the irony of it made me laugh and I figured since we are cops … well … were … we shouldn't get arrested or have our children taken away from us."

"Ah … Ally … what did you do?"

"Wellllll … just remember … I was in vice."

Alex pulled out Bobby's costume first. It was a purple velour suit with a lilac shirt. A big hat to match with a feather in it. Fake gold chains and a belt with a large medallion. Bobby was a pimp. She pulled out a very similar suit in a much smaller size for the peanut … John, his pimp in training. She was his Madame, the two girls had, what looked to be, mini Prom dresses and she also bought the dog a costume … a cat … the dog was going to be a cat.

Bobby's jaw hit the floor.

"Get it … Lilah's going to be a cat … because we run a cat house … oh … oh … I almost forgot, check out my hooker boots!"

"Ally … where are the kids?"

"Sleeping … why?"

"Could you try on your costume … and don't forget the boots!"

Bobby, with a gleam in his eyes, grabbed his old dress blues and ran up stairs to their bed room. George Washington University was a distance or maybe distracted memory, but Alex knew it was Bobby's turn to get what he deserved in his lifetime. She knew he would make a great Professor, but right now, she was going to teach him something.

Thanks for reading and yes, I know I'm warped! ~ Judy